Gracie

innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ vs Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide

innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ scores 9.3/9.8 and Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide scores 9.3/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.

Head to head

innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​
innisfree

Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​

serummid-range
9.3
VS
Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide
Kiehl's Since 1851

Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide

serumpremium
9.3

Score comparison

These two are neck and neck — just 0.0 points apart.

3
2
innisfree wins 0
Tied 3
Kiehl's Since 1851 wins 2
9.3innisfree
vs
9.3Kiehl's Since 1851

Scores last verified: July 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Kiehl's Since 1851 WINS
8.6
9.4
innisfree
Kiehl's Since 1851

Irritation Risk

TIE
9.5
9.5
innisfree
Kiehl's Since 1851

Active Ingredient Strength

Kiehl's Since 1851 WINS
6.4
7.7
innisfree
Kiehl's Since 1851

Ingredient Transparency

TIE
8.5
8.5
innisfree
Kiehl's Since 1851

Formulation Safety

TIE
9.0
9.0
innisfree
Kiehl's Since 1851

Ingredient face-off

18% overlap
33innisfree
7Shared
39Kiehl's Since 1851

Why these two are neck and neck

These two serums take different paths to a similar destination. Both formulas include solid hydrating ingredients, and the overall scores reflect that — the gap here is genuinely slim.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide scores 9.4 here versus 8.6 for innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ brings Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Extract, and Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate as actives, while kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide relies on Niacinamide, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, and Adenosine. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ is better if you have

  • Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
  • Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycereth-26
  • Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide is better if you have

  • Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
  • Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
  • Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Niacinamide does the heavy lifting

Value comparison

At mid-range pricing with a score of 9.3, innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ is a decent pick. Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide sits at the premium level with a 9.3 score — the extra cost doesn't translate to better scores here.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.

9.3innisfree
vs
9.3Kiehl's Since 1851

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ or Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide?

Based on ingredient analysis, innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ and Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ and Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.